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    Artists as Inventors: The Revolutionary Power of DIY Tools

    8 min
    |
    6 sources
    |
    Oct 28, 2025
    CreativityTechnologyHistory

    Explore how artists throughout history have challenged the status quo by creating their own unconventional tools, from body-based paintbrushes to hacked technologies, revealing tool-making as both creative innovation and political statement.

    Artists as Inventors: The Revolutionary Power of DIY Tools

    This audio lesson was created by a BeFreed community member

    Input question

    Using the book “Art in the Making” by Glenn Adamson and Julia Bryan-Wilson, go over Chapter: Tooling Up of the book.

    Host voices
    Niaplay
    Milesplay
    Knowledge sources
    Your Brain on Art
    Art in the Making: From Paint to Crowdsourcing - Glenn Adamson
    link
    https://books.google.com/books/about/Art_in_the_Making.html?id=YtKNEAAAQBAJ
    Art in the Making. Artists and their Materials from the Studio to ...
    link
    https://we-make-money-not-art.com/art-in-the-making-artists-and-their-materials-from-the-studio-to-crowdsourcing/
    Art in the Making: Artists and their Materials from the Studio to ...
    link
    https://www.thamesandhudsonusa.com/books/art-in-the-making-artists-and-their-materials-from-the-studio-to-crowdsourcing-hardcover
    Julia Bryan-Wilson on Art in the Making: Artists and Their Materials from the Studio to Crowdsourcing
    link
    https://bampfa.org/event/julia-bryan-wilson-art-making-artists-and-their-materials-studio-crowdsourcing
    Glenn Adamson - Art in the Making
    link
    https://www.glennadamson.com/work/2017/7/31/art-in-the-making

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    "Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

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    @Cashflowbubu
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    @Moemenn
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    "I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

    @Chloe, Solo founder, LA
    platform
    comments
    12
    likes
    117

    "Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

    @Raaaaaachelw
    platform
    star
    star
    star
    star
    star

    "Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

    @Matt, YC alum
    platform
    comments
    12
    likes
    108

    "Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

    @Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
    platform
    comments
    254
    likes
    17

    "Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

    @djmikemoore
    platform
    star
    star
    star
    star
    star

    "BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

    @Pitiful
    platform
    comments
    96
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    "BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

    @SofiaP
    platform
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    "BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

    @Jaded_Falcon
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    comments
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    thumbsUp
    16

    "It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

    @OojasSalunke
    platform
    star
    star
    star
    star
    star

    "The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

    @Leo, Law Student, UPenn
    platform
    comments
    37
    likes
    483

    "Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

    @Cashflowbubu
    platform
    star
    star
    star
    star
    star

    "Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

    @Moemenn
    platform
    star
    star
    star
    star
    star

    "I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

    @Chloe, Solo founder, LA
    platform
    comments
    12
    likes
    117

    "Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

    @Raaaaaachelw
    platform
    star
    star
    star
    star
    star

    "Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

    @Matt, YC alum
    platform
    comments
    12
    likes
    108

    "Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

    @Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
    platform
    comments
    254
    likes
    17

    "Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

    @djmikemoore
    platform
    star
    star
    star
    star
    star

    "BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

    @Pitiful
    platform
    comments
    96
    likes
    4.5K

    "BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

    @SofiaP
    platform
    star
    star
    star
    star
    star

    "BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

    @Jaded_Falcon
    platform
    comments
    201
    thumbsUp
    16

    "It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

    @OojasSalunke
    platform
    star
    star
    star
    star
    star

    "The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

    @Leo, Law Student, UPenn
    platform
    comments
    37
    likes
    483

    "Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

    @Cashflowbubu
    platform
    star
    star
    star
    star
    star
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    Learn Anything, Personalized

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    Featured book summaries
    Crucial ConversationsThe Perfect MarriageInto the WildNever Split the DifferenceAttachedGood to GreatSay Nothing
    Trending categories
    Self HelpCommunication SkillRelationshipMindfulnessPhilosophyInspirationProductivity
    Celebrities' reading list
    Elon MuskCharlie KirkBill GatesSteve JobsAndrew HubermanJoe RoganJordan Peterson
    Award winning collection
    Pulitzer PrizeNational Book AwardGoodreads Choice AwardsNobel Prize in LiteratureNew York TimesCaldecott MedalNebula Award
    Featured Topics
    ManagementAmerican HistoryWarTradingStoicismAnxietySex
    Best books by Year
    2025 Best Non Fiction Books2024 Best Non Fiction Books2023 Best Non Fiction Books
    Learning tools
    Knowledge VisualizerAI Podcast Generator
    Featured authors
    Chimamanda Ngozi AdichieGeorge OrwellO. J. SimpsonBarbara O'NeillWinston ChurchillCharlie Kirk
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    Key Takeaways

    1

    Opening & Welcome

    0:00

    **Nia:** Hey everyone, welcome back to your personalized podcast from BeFreed! I'm Nia, and I'm absolutely thrilled to dive into something fascinating today with my co-host Miles.

    0:10

    **Miles:** Hey there, Nia. Yeah, I'm really excited about this one too. We're exploring Chapter 5 from "Art in the Making" by Glenn Adamson and Julia Bryan-Wilson-specifically their chapter called "Tooling Up." And honestly, it's got me thinking about how artists have always been these incredible innovators when it comes to creating their own tools.

    0:31

    **Nia:** Right? I mean, when we think about art, we usually focus on the finished piece, but there's this whole world of invention happening behind the scenes that we rarely talk about.

    2

    Topic Introduction & Source Material Setup

    3

    The Politics of Tool-Making

    4

    Revolutionary Simplicity in Art Tools

    5

    Contemporary Tool Innovation

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